Poudre School District superintendent proposes early release to beat the heat

Suggested calendar modifications will go to the Board of Education for approval Dec. 10.

Nov. 25, 2013

A fan blows air on third-graders at Timnath Elementary School on Sept. 3. Poudre School District Superintendent Sandra Smyser has proposed letting class out early for two weeks in the fall to deal with issues of overheated classrooms that came up early this school year. / V. Richard Haro/Coloradoan library

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To give students a reprieve from high classroom temperatures, Poudre School District Superintendent Sandra Smyser has proposed that elementary and middle schools be released two hours early for the first two weeks of the 2014-15 school year.

With that change would come slight calendar adjustments. The first day of school for all students would be Aug. 19, with school ending May 29.

This year, classes for some grades began Aug. 19. All grades started Aug. 20, with May 30 marking the school year’s end.

Smyser wrote in an email to parents Monday the heat issue “is very complicated with no easy answers.” It was acknowledged early on that any solution would likely draw criticism from all sides.

“However, after seeing the conditions of some classrooms this August, I felt compelled to address it,” she said.

Smyser’s suggested fix will go before the Poudre School District Board of Education on Dec. 10.

Smyser stressed that the proposed calendar changes are part of a one-year pilot program and asked the community “to come along with us on this journey as we try something new.” If adopted, the district will survey parents and community members in September 2014 to see how the changes were received, using responses to make future decisions.

As part of early release:

• Breakfast and lunch would still be served.

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• Buses will run regular afternoon routes for elementary and middle school students two hours early (specific route times will be set this summer).

• Morning and afternoon kindergarten schedules will be coordinated for the first two weeks (schedules will be finalized this spring).

• B.A.S.E. Camp will extend hours of operation, from early release until 6 p.m., for the first two weeks.

• PSD athletic directors will work with comprehensive high schools and middle schools regarding practice times during the first two weeks of school.

• Smyser also said PSD will encourage child care providers and community organizations to provide options for after-school activities for students during these two weeks.

Longer term, the PSD Planning, Design and Construction, or PDC, department will study how much it would cost and whether it’s viable to install cooling systems in all schools. This was among the list of top suggestions from parents, employees and students surveyed earlier this year.

Nine of 50 PSD schools are fully air-conditioned, while 32 are partially air-conditioned. A dozen have tempered air, ushered in through new heating and ventilation systems paid for with 2010 bond dollars. But 25 schools have no cooling at all in areas other than computer labs, music rooms and some offices.

PDC will also analyze the best methods of cooling all schools — think optimal placement of fans or reflective film on windows — study current ventilation in buildings and evaluate energy and sustainability guidelines to balance conservation with employee and student comfort.

The district’s transportation department will also see if it’s possible to start school earlier at Timnath Elementary. Temperatures climbed into the high 80s and low 90s in Timnath classrooms this fall, prompting the principal to hand out Popsicles, move classes to the basement and teachers to spray water on exhausted, sweaty students using motorized fans.